marijuana – The New Politicalhttps://thenewpolitical.com
An Independent Voice for Athens.Fri, 13 Sep 2019 18:49:31 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.11OPINION: What Michigan’s marijuana move means for the Midwesthttps://thenewpolitical.com/2018/11/14/opinion-what-michigans-marijuana-move-means-for-the-midwest/
https://thenewpolitical.com/2018/11/14/opinion-what-michigans-marijuana-move-means-for-the-midwest/#respondWed, 14 Nov 2018 12:45:48 +0000https://thenewpolitical.com/?p=22947Opinion writer Madeline Kramer claims Michigan’s move to legalize recreational marijuana will provide a model for other Midwestern states to follow. Michiganders voted “Yes” on Proposal 1 during this year’s election, making recreational marijuana legal for adults age 21 years or older. The proposal passed by a wide margin, making it clear that Michigan is …

]]>Opinion writer Madeline Kramer claims Michigan’s move to legalize recreational marijuana will provide a model for other Midwestern states to follow.

Michiganders voted “Yes” on Proposal 1 during this year’s election, making recreational marijuana legal for adults age 21 years or older. The proposal passed by a wide margin, making it clear that Michigan is ready to take their current medical marijuana laws a step further. Michigan legalized marijuana for medical use in 2008, and the state plans to apply many of its current regulations to recreational marijuana.

Michigan’s legalization of recreational marijuana is an important win for the Midwest. Michigan became the first state in the Midwest to make such a large step in changing the narrative surrounding marijuana. Ohio attempted to legalize both recreational and medicinal marijuana in 2015, but the proposal failed due to concerns surrounding monopolies.

Michigan has a sound medical marijuana program and seems to have high hopes that the recreational marijuana legalization will go just as smoothly. If Michigan’s new recreational marijuana laws are well received, the idea quite possibly could move down to Ohio.

Michigan became the 10th state to legalize recreational marijuana, joining Colorado, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Nevada, Vermont, Washington, and New Hampshire. However, Michigan is different from these states in two big ways — tax and amount legal to possess.

The new law makes Michigan one of the most progressive states regarding recreational marijuana legalization.

Michigan is adding a 10 percent excise tax on marijuana sales in addition to the current 6% sales tax. This is one of the lowest taxes on marijuana. Recreational marijuana in Washington carries a 37 percent sales tax, and Colorado’s marijuana has a 15 percent sales tax and a 15 percent excise tax.

Proposal 1 also stated that adults would be able to own up to 12 personal plants. This is also more than most other states. Californians can own up to 6 personal plants and Nevadans can own up to 6 plants per person or up to 12 plants per residence.

This is extremely important to surrounding states like Ohio. Ohio legalized marijuana for medical purposes in September 2016. However, Ohio has hit many roadblocks in getting the medical marijuana program running.

Ohio law requires all medical marijuana be pre-tested before hitting dispensaries, which is slowing down the process, as none of the five testing labs are open. A testing lab in Nelsonville and another in Streetsboro are tentatively set to open in mid-December. Still, Ohio has gotten a slow start to implementing its medical marijuana program.

It is important to remember that some areas of Ohio are making progressive strides regarding marijuana. The Athens Cannabis Ordinance, or TACO to locals, passed in November 2017. This did not legalize marijuana, but decriminalizes it, effectively eliminating the penalty fees in place for up to 200 grams of marijuana or 10 grams of hash.

Michigan legalizing recreational marijuana is an important and progressive step for the Midwest. It shows to the rest of the country that an area largely thought of as conservative-leaning is making progressive changes.

Ohioans may see how Michigan structures their recreational marijuana laws in the next coming months and become more interested in the possibility. If the program goes well, the idea and possibility can spread to surrounding states. This puts the Midwest on the map for progressive decisions and changes regarding marijuana.

While Ohio may not have legalized recreational marijuana, our neighbors to the north are becoming an example for the whole Midwest region.

]]>https://thenewpolitical.com/2018/11/14/opinion-what-michigans-marijuana-move-means-for-the-midwest/feed/0Ohio U Campus Crime: Weed, Weed Everywherehttps://thenewpolitical.com/2018/04/16/ohio-u-campus-crime-weed-weed-everywhere/
https://thenewpolitical.com/2018/04/16/ohio-u-campus-crime-weed-weed-everywhere/#commentsMon, 16 Apr 2018 16:11:48 +0000http://thenewpolitical.com/?p=22061During the week that included Ohio U’s annual Moms Weekend, crimes ranging from marijuana citations to menacing were reported by the Ohio University Police Department. Moms Weed-kend and Beyond During Moms Weekend, campus was flooded with mothers and apparently weed as well. Six of the citations issued over the last week for drug offenses happened …

]]>During the week that included Ohio U’s annual Moms Weekend, crimes ranging from marijuana citations to menacing were reported by the Ohio University Police Department.

Moms Weed-kend and Beyond

During Moms Weekend, campus was flooded with mothers and apparently weed as well. Six of the citations issued over the last week for drug offenses happened over Moms Weekend. In total for the week, 14 people were cited for possession of marijuana, 4 were cited for possessing paraphernalia, and 1 was cited for tampering with a safety device in the Scott Quadrangle.

University Machine Broke

The OUPD reported three cases of destruction of property and one case of property damage over the past week.

Thieves? On MY Campus?

There were four cases issued for theft over the past week. In one of these cases, a driver’s license was stolen from Ping. In another, a license plate was stolen. Speaking of driving…

Driving is Hard

Two people were cited for driving on suspended licenses and one person was cited for driving with a fake license plate. Two were cited for failing to obey traffic control devices, and two others were cited for stop sign violations. Additionally, one person was cited for a seatbelt violation. Three traffic accidents were reported.

Child Endangerment

One case of child endangerment at Walter Field House was investigated by the OUPD over the past week. OUPD sent their report to Athens County Child Services for further investigation.

Miscellaneous Mischief

A rainbow of various crimes were also reported by the OUPD this week. One person was cited for public urination on Union Street. Another person was cited for disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing and obstruction of official business. And finally, one person was cited for menacing.

]]>These are the crimes as reported by the Ohio U Police Department last week.

Will the plague of criminal destruction that wreaks havoc across campus ever come to an end? Self-proclaimed experts (this reporter) say no.

Saturday night’s alright for fighting (and property destruction)

OUPD cited a student Saturday for fighting in Biddle Hall. A simple assault was also reported on Friday night in Voigt Hall. A citation was also issued in Baker Center for property destruction.

An unnamed criminal was also charged for property destruction Tuesday in Washington Hall after it was discovered that the residents had obstructed a smoke detector with a plastic bag, endangering the entire residence hall.

South Green keeps it green

South Green was a hotbed for drug-related criminal mischief during the past week. Of the 10 citations issued for controlled substances, six were located on South Green.

Oceans 11

Some real major heists were pulled off this week. A theft was reported at Seigfred Hall Monday afternoon. A larceny was also reported on Tuesday in Lindley hall.

If you’re underage drinking, you’re not thinking

OUPD reported 7 instances of underage alcohol consumption this week. All citations except one, which was is Tupper Hall, were issued in dorms.

Miscellaneous criminal mischief

Police responded to a telecommunications harassment complaint in Sargent Hall.

An individual was cited for possession of fictitious identification on College Green.

OUPD responded to an “emotionally distressed person” at the Hudson Health Center on Tuesday.

]]>https://thenewpolitical.com/2018/02/06/ohio-u-campus-crime-south-green-keeps-it-green/feed/0Chances of Athens marijuana cultivation site go up in smokehttps://thenewpolitical.com/2018/01/23/chances-athens-marijuana-cultivation-site-go-smoke/
https://thenewpolitical.com/2018/01/23/chances-athens-marijuana-cultivation-site-go-smoke/#respondTue, 23 Jan 2018 19:58:36 +0000http://thenewpolitical.com/?p=21615The possibility of a medical marijuana cultivation site coming to Athens County may have disappeared after the state denied the necessary license to the Westerville-based company interested in building it. Black Elk LLC, a company which is partnered with Edison Biotech at Ohio University, has filed an appeal with the state after its application for …

]]>The possibility of a medical marijuana cultivation site coming to Athens County may have disappeared after the state denied the necessary license to the Westerville-based company interested in building it.

Black Elk LLC, a company which is partnered with Edison Biotech at Ohio University, has filed an appeal with the state after its application for a provisional cultivator’s license was denied. If the decision is not reversed, the company will be unable to build a medical marijuana cultivation site in the Athens area.

Ohio U’s partnership with Black Elk may be reevaluated in the near future based on the result of the appeal. According to the Athens News, the agreement meant that Edison Biotech would be able to test cannabis for further, currently unknown health benefits.

Ohio issued 24 total cultivator’s licenses and denied 146 other companies, including Black Elk. Black Elk filed its application through its subsidiary Black Elk Farms, according to a list published by Columbus Business First. It is one of 63 companies to file appeals with the state regarding the denial of a cultivator’s license.

Black Elk has not made an official statement regarding the future of its partnership with Edison Biotech nor will it mention the details of its application for a cultivator’s license.

“We are going through an appeal with the state,” Scott Holowicki, a co-founder of Black Elk, said. “Until that process is finalized, we are not at liberty to discuss the details of our application.”

The majority of the appeals filed regarding these cultivator’s licenses have not had hearings set yet. There may be appeals filed in the near future, since some companies have changed addresses and reset the deadline for filing in doing so.

Black Elk was co-founded by Chris Vince and Scott Holowicki. Its purpose is to provide safe and natural medicines and products that are backed by scientific research.

]]>https://thenewpolitical.com/2018/01/23/chances-athens-marijuana-cultivation-site-go-smoke/feed/0TACO passed, but what does that mean?https://thenewpolitical.com/2017/11/09/taco-passed-meaning/
https://thenewpolitical.com/2017/11/09/taco-passed-meaning/#respondThu, 09 Nov 2017 17:19:47 +0000http://thenewpolitical.com/?p=21380The Athens Cannabis Ordinance, or TACO, passed during Tuesday’s election by a wide margin. As with any law or ordinance concerning cannabis in Ohio, it can be confusing. Let’s break it down. What does TACO actually do? TACO is an ordinance that eliminates the penalty fine for marijuana misdemeanors of up to 200 grams …

]]>The Athens Cannabis Ordinance, or TACO, passed during Tuesday’s election by a wide margin. As with any law or ordinance concerning cannabis in Ohio, it can be confusing. Let’s break it down.

What does TACO actually do?

TACO is an ordinance that eliminates the penalty fine for marijuana misdemeanors of up to 200 grams worth of possession or cultivation within Athens city limits. It also allows residents to have up to ten grams of hash with a maximum fine of $1.

Yes, this means that marijuana is still illegal in Athens. Activists in favor of TACO argue that marijuana depenalization in Athens will incentivize law enforcement to place less priority on the punishment of marijuana misdemeanors and instead focus on more violent crime.

WATCH: Here’s what you need to know about TACO

But how does TACO work?

TACO was able to manipulate Amendment XVIII, Section 3 of the Ohio State Constitution, which allows municipalities to make their own police regulations.

An example of this would be the fact that municipalities are allowed to raise or lower the fine for traffic violations in their municipality. This same concept also allows municipalities to reduce the fines for marijuana misdemeanors.

This is only possible because Ohio decriminalized marijuana, meaning that it is no longer a felony sentencing.

Is this ordinance the first of its kind?

In 2015, the city of Toledo depenalized marijuana, becoming the first municipality in Ohio to do so. The depenalization is a sharp difference from the $150 misdemeanor fine that follows an Ohio law code marijuana violation.

Last year, four municipalities — Newark, Logan, Roseville and Bellaire — all passed similar legislation that depenalizes marijuana within municipality limits.

Furthermore, recently elected City Council Member Sarah Grace also came out in opposition of TACO, claiming that in 2016-2017, only five marijuana cases in Athens were charged through Athens municipal court under Athens city code. She also noted that Athens city code is the only thing that TACO affects, meaning that TACO has limited effectiveness as a city ordinance, especially because most drug violation charges occur on campus.

Ohio U school policy is treated differently than Athens law enforcement. That means that people who smoke marijuana on Ohio U’s campus are not protected by TACO. It would require the university to update its policy in order for this to change.

]]>https://thenewpolitical.com/2017/11/09/taco-passed-meaning/feed/0Ohio U Campus Crime: Don’t drive without a licensehttps://thenewpolitical.com/2017/10/23/campus-crime-dont-drive-without-license/
https://thenewpolitical.com/2017/10/23/campus-crime-dont-drive-without-license/#respondMon, 23 Oct 2017 16:45:17 +0000http://thenewpolitical.com/?p=21184It was another case of the usual suspects: marijuana citations, fake IDs and property damage were just some of the crimes since by OUPD last week. Goodbye, scholarships This week, OUPD gave citations to twelve individuals for possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia, a whole two less citations than last week’s numbers. Once again, …

]]>It was another case of the usual suspects: marijuana citations, fake IDs and property damage were just some of the crimes since by OUPD last week.

Goodbye, scholarships

This week, OUPD gave citations to twelve individuals for possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia, a whole two less citations than last week’s numbers. Once again, the majority of these controlled substance citations were dispersed on the weekend.

What scholarships?

Three students received citations for fake IDs this week on Oct. 12, Oct. 14 and Oct. 16. One of these student’s fake ID was discovered by a custodian in the Bentley Annex on Oct. 14 at 11:42 p.m.

Additionally, three individuals were cited this for underage alcohol consumption (UAC). No arrests were made for UAC, unlike last week’s total of four arrests for the same violation.

OUPD made four total arrests this week for disorderly conduct via intoxication, all of which occurred on the weekend. For the same crime, only two individuals were given citations on Oct. 12 and Oct. 14.

A driver’s ed. course couldn’t hurt

OUPD reported three traffic incidents this week. Occurring exclusively on Oct. 18, these crimes concerned a citation for a man driving without a license on Richland Avenue at 12:28 a.m. and two reports of accident property damage in Parking Lot 38 at 10:01 a.m., and later Parking Lot 128 at 6:51 p.m.

General criminal mischief

Only one report for property destruction was made this week. On Oct. 14 at 12:04 p.m. in Brown Hall, a student reported that their room had been defaced.

Three counts of theft were reported this week, occuring on Oct. 16 and Oct. 18. These individuals reported the following as missing: a wallet stolen at Shively Hall, a parking permit stolen at an undisclosed location, and lastly, at Parking Lot 38, “personal belongings” were reported missing.

As the Drug Free Action Alliance has fought legalization efforts in the past, the move to appoint Seidel as executive director and Coder as assistant director raises questions over the committee’s interest.

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee was created to advise the three state agencies in charge of medicinal cannabis in Ohio, though its formal recommendations are not binding. The 14-member committee is composed of individuals representing the various interests of medicinal cannabis groups, including law enforcement, caregivers and patients.

“We were hoping that these appointments would be made in good faith, and that we’d have a well-educated, balanced medical marijuana committee here,” Marshall said. “With two of the fiercest critics of marijuana on the board in all of Ohio, it’s troubling and makes us wonder whether this committee will be functional.”

The three state agencies who will hear recommendations from the advisory committee — the Medical, Pharmacy, and Commerce Boards of Ohio — are in charge of establishing regulations like retail dispensaries, physician requirements and the number of grower permits distributed.

Seidel will represent people involved in mental health treatment on the committee, while Coder will represent people involved in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Ohio House Speaker Rosenberger spoke highly of Seidel in her appointment, but the OMMG retains its doubts.

“Marcie Seidel is supposed to represent mental health professions, and Tony addiction services — well, they’re not psychologists, psychiatrists or addiction specialists,” Marshall said. “They have no qualifications whatsoever. The only qualifications these two have is that they really don’t like medicinal marijuana.”

While the appointments may have caused a stir, the remaining 12 members of the advisory committee have largely flown under the radar.

“If you take a look at who Gov. Kasich appointed, there are people who are very well educated on medical marijuana, and we have no quarrel with these appointments,” Marshall said.

But despite Marshall’s concerns over the latest additions to the advisory committee, he remains confident of marijuana’s future in Ohio.

“Frankly, the real work that’s going to be done on medicinal marijuana is going to be done by these state agencies,” Marshall said. “How much real power this committee really has remains to be seen. Are these appointments disappointing? Yes. Does it mean that this industry will never come to fruition in Ohio? No.”

As the state agencies in charge of medicinal cannabis continue to execute their timeline for establishing an operational program, OMMG urged supporters to look to the future.

“I encourage people to stay tuned, because it’s going to be a long process here,” Marshall said. “We’re hopeful we’ll still get a medical marijuana program that serves thousands of patients and gets them the medicine we need, and that people will hold their elected officials accountable for their part in the process.”

]]>https://thenewpolitical.com/2016/10/20/new-appointments-ohio-medical-marijuana-committee-spark-concerns/feed/0Medical marijuana arrives in Ohiohttps://thenewpolitical.com/2016/09/07/medical-marijuana-arrives-ohio/
https://thenewpolitical.com/2016/09/07/medical-marijuana-arrives-ohio/#respondThu, 08 Sep 2016 03:32:35 +0000http://thenewpolitical.com/?p=17586Medical marijuana enthusiasts in the Buckeye State have a reason to celebrate this week: House Bill 523 will go into effect Sept. 8, ushering in a new era of medicinal cannabis use in Ohio. The bill authorizes the use of medicinal cannabis for Ohioans who meet the qualifying standards; some qualifying medical conditions include cancer, …

]]>Medical marijuana enthusiasts in the Buckeye State have a reason to celebrate this week: House Bill 523 will go into effect Sept. 8, ushering in a new era of medicinal cannabis use in Ohio.

The bill authorizes the use of medicinal cannabis for Ohioans who meet the qualifying standards; some qualifying medical conditions include cancer, AIDS, and Parkinson’s disease. Patients will need to apply to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy for a registration card through a certified physician.

Recreational use of cannabis is still illegal under Ohio law. Marijuana remains classified federally as a Schedule I drug, and questions and concerns about medicinal cannabis’ future remain.

Smoking marijuana, even for medical purposes, will remain prohibited under state law. Vaporizing cannabis, consuming edibles and oils, and using patches will be permitted, provided it is not marketed attractively to children (following concerns in other states over the drug’s appearance).

Dispensaries must be at least 500 feet away from any church, school, playground or library.

State law continues to prohibit the private cultivation of marijuana for any purpose, medical or otherwise. Patients should expect to be able to possess up to a 90 days’ supply of marijuana at any one time legally, though the Ohio Board of Pharmacy is continuing to develop the appropriate rules and bureaucracy necessary to carry out this quasi-legalization across the state.

The necessary certification to receive and use medicinal marijuana will continue to evolve over time as the Medical Board of Ohio adds diseases and conditions that qualify. With the current bill, regulations regarding marijuana dispensaries and its cultivation are all but absent, and the board has until Sept. 8, 2017, to complete its list of rules.

While some continue to hold doubts about the usefulness of medicinal marijuana, a vast array of studies and statistics continue to tout its effectiveness.

Broader efforts to legalize marijuana for industrial and recreational use continue in Ohio, with advocacy groups such as the Ohio Rights Group (ORG) campaigning to inform and persuade residents to support its efforts. The ORG has been involved in pro-legalization efforts for years, testifying before the Ohio Senate and House, offering input to legislators and spearheading past ballot initiatives.

Some hiccups remain even with the passage of HB 523, according to Mary Jane Borden, co-founder and current treasurer of the ORG.

“An Ohioan with proper certification can still be fired from their job if they test positive for marijuana usage, though they can contest this ruling after the fact with the appropriate certification,” Borden said.

This is a result of marijuana’s continued labelling as a Schedule I drug, which marks it as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

HB 523 also does not address the comparatively high incarceration rate for marijuana possession, for which there were 11,988 adults arrested in Ohio in 2012 alone, according to data from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services.

“We have to stop arresting people over a plant,” Borden said, though she noted that HB 523 is a positive step forward for marijuana’s future.

When asked about the future of legalized cannabis in Ohio and how HB 523 contributed to the ORG’s efforts, she was more optimistic.

“In a moral society, the first thing we do is remove the sick and disabled from the battlefield,” she said, noting that upwards of 200,000 Ohioans could potentially benefit from the new medicine.

HB 523 will likely not be the end of marijuana legislation in Ohio, but the bill has planted the seeds for future growth.

]]>https://thenewpolitical.com/2016/09/07/medical-marijuana-arrives-ohio/feed/0Medical Cannabis Industrial Hemp Amendment rejected by Ohio attorney generalhttps://thenewpolitical.com/2016/03/24/medical-cannabis-industrial-hemp-amendment-rejected-by-ohio-attorney-general/
https://thenewpolitical.com/2016/03/24/medical-cannabis-industrial-hemp-amendment-rejected-by-ohio-attorney-general/#respondThu, 24 Mar 2016 13:32:10 +0000http://thenewpolitical.com/?p=16959Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine rejected a petition Monday that would have created an amendment to legalize marijuana for both medical and industrial purposes. The failed amendment, known as The Medical Cannabis Industrial Hemp Amendment, received 2,131 signatures, putting it well above the 1,000 signatures needed for review by the Ohio attorney general. “The amendment …

“The amendment is unique in that it does not set any legislation or regulation within the amendment,” said Theresa Daniello, founder of Grassroots Ohio, the group that proposed the amendment. “It declares the right of patients to have access to medicinal cannabis, it creates a right for the small business person to make it an even playing field so that we can protect all Ohioans’ rights in this industry, it protects the rights of farmers and the growing of industrial hemp and finally — I believe the most important thing — is that we take it out of Schedule I in the state of Ohio.”

Daniello said that removing hemp as a Schedule I drug will allow for much-needed testing and research.

DeWine rejected the group’s proposal for two inconsistencies in the proposal’s summary language.

“The summary language omits references to proposed amendment language that ‘industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis shall be researched, regulated, and promoted by the State in a manner substantially similar to other agricultural crops,’” a press release from DeWine’s office said.

Additionally, the press release said that the summary language of the proposal noted an age limit on licensing and ownership of marijuana, but the proposed amendment itself placed only a limit on licensing but not ownership.

Although this is the first time Grassroots Ohio has proposed such legislation, it is not the first time an amendment has been proposed to legalize the drug in Ohio for medical purposes. In fact, DeWine rejected another proposed medical marijuana legalization amendment just two days prior to his rejection of The Medical Cannabis Industrial Hemp Amendment.

That legislation, the similarly-titled Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment, was proposed for the fourth time by Ohio Medical Cannabis Care LLC and was rejected by DeWine on Friday for 11 different reasons.

Daniello says her group is not deterred by DeWine’s rejection; rather, they are back at work to address his qualms.

“We had very minor mistakes and we are currently paying petitioners to gather again, and we will be going in on either Friday or Monday with our corrections,” Daniello said. “We are very confident that we will be approved.”

]]>https://thenewpolitical.com/2016/03/24/medical-cannabis-industrial-hemp-amendment-rejected-by-ohio-attorney-general/feed/0Statewide tours let Ohioans hash out opinions about medical marijuanahttps://thenewpolitical.com/2016/01/26/statewide-tours-let-ohioans-hash-out-opinions-about-medical-marijuana/
https://thenewpolitical.com/2016/01/26/statewide-tours-let-ohioans-hash-out-opinions-about-medical-marijuana/#respondTue, 26 Jan 2016 07:32:26 +0000http://thenewpolitical.com/?p=16458Two Ohio senators will begin a multistop tour across Ohio on Saturday, where they will speak with Ohioans about their opinions on legalizing medical marijuana. State senators Dave Burke, R-Marysville, and Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, are leading the discussion. The stops will consist of town hall-style forums that will focus on what those in attendance …

]]>Two Ohio senators will begin a multistop tour across Ohio on Saturday, where they will speak with Ohioans about their opinions on legalizing medical marijuana.

State senators Dave Burke, R-Marysville, and Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, are leading the discussion. The stops will consist of town hall-style forums that will focus on what those in attendance have to say about decriminalizing marijuana for medical use.

“This is our chance as legislators to listen to advocates and skeptics and come to an agreement that will benefit people living with difficult medical conditions,” Yuko said in apress release. “A Quinnipiac poll in October showed that 90% of Ohioans support medical marijuana. I am hopeful that these town hall meetings will give many faces to the support we have seen in the polls.”

Ohioans voted against legalizing medical marijuana last November by rejecting Issue 3. If the issue had passed, 10 facilities would have had exclusive rights to grow marijuana, and any person 21 or older in Ohio would have been able to purchase marijuana.

Burke said both he and Yuko do not support the recreational use of marijuana, but they are addressing the issue due to the large amount of public outcry that they have received from their constituents.

“Following the discussions surrounding Issue 3 last November, many Ohioans support having serious talks about medical marijuana,” Burke said in the press release.

Burke has a history in pharmaceuticals and has served on various legislative committees regarding public health. Yuko has advocated for the legalization of medical marijuana throughout his time in office and first introduced a bill to legalize it in 2005, according to a press release.

“Issue 3 would have established an oligarchy that favored the financial interest of a few investors and their friends,” said Michael Hiles, communications director for Legalize Ohio 2016, a pro-marijuana group. “When a single contingency of cannabis activists attempts to dominate the narrative, enough organized opposition exists to push back against the manipulation of the market to keep an even playing field for everyone.

“Ohio is ready for cannabis—in fact, Ohio is probably ready for adult use vs. medical only. People want their individual rights, and that is what the cannabis debate has become.”

Despite Issue 3’s failure to pass, the topic of legalizing marijuana has remained in the limelight. In addition to Burke and Yuko’s announced tour, the Ohio House has assembled a task force that will consider legalizing marijuana. The task force is made up of 15 members who vary from former Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery to Jimmy Gould, co-founder of the pro-marijuana activist group ResponsibleOhio.

Hiles acknowledged that the legislature trying to gain input from constituents is a good thing but expressed concern about the ethics of some of the practices by individual groups. He pointed to the Ohio Rights Group, a nonprofit group that advocates for medical, therapeutic and industrial legalization of marijuana and how they were involved with the political action committee ResponsibleOhio, as an example.

“We’ve seen the advocacy community fragment along the lines of those who advocate for patients and those who do it with personal gain in mind,” Hiles said. “In particular, last year the Ohio Rights Group capitulated to ResponsibleOhio, who used the patient advocacy community as a battleground by pushing the narrative of getting patients medicine despite the cartel. The same individuals who were part and parcel to ResponsibleOhio are now on the House’s task force, James Gould and Chris Stock. Their Ohio Rights Group advocates are already asking patients to contact them directly instead of the patient going to the task force and town hall meetings directly.”

Despite any issues with the practices of these groups, Hiles believes that 2016 will be the year for Ohio to see initial medical marijuana legislation.

The town hall forums will kick off Saturday at Cleveland State University, with later events to be announced in Toledo, Cincinnati and Columbus.

“This is about quality of life for the elderly, for young kids who are suffering needlessly and the parents that care for them,” Yuko said in the press release. “We need to listen to the voices of the people we represent. I look forward to hearing from more people around the state about what medical marijuana means to them and their families.”